Search

In patients with cancer, the safety of catheter ablation for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been evaluated, yet. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of AF ablation in cancer survivors. Consecutively recruited patients undergoing catheter ablation of non-valvular AF at our center between March 2015 and March 2017 were evaluated. The primary outcome of the study was clinically relevant bleedings occurred within 30 ± 5 days after the procedure. Patients with cancer were propensity matched to patients without cancer in a 1:3 and 1:6 ratio after stratification by baseline clinical features. Overall, 184 patients were included in the study. Of them, 21 (11%) were cancer survivors. Cancer site was more frequently gastrointestinal (36%), breast (23%), and genitourinary (18%). At 30 ± 5 days, clinically relevant bleedings occurred in 14 patients. Crude odds ratio (OR) for clinically relevant bleedings was 3.60 (95% CI 1.02–12.7) higher in cancer than in non-cancer patients. This trend remained after propensity score–matched population (OR 3.48, 95% CI 0.76–15.90 for matched 1:3, OR 4.95, 95% CI 1.2–20.2 for matched 1:6). Type of anticoagulation was not associated with bleedings. Preliminary results suggest that clinically relevant bleeding after catheter ablation for AF is more frequent in cancer survivors than in patients without cancer. Further studies are required to confirm the present data.

Background Adenosine can be used to reveal dormant pulmonary vein (PV) conduction after PV isolation (PVI). This study presents a subanalysis of real-world 1-year follow-up data from the ESC-EHRA EORP Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Ablation Long-Term registry to analyze the usage of adenosine during PVI treatment in terms of rhythm outcome and safety. Methods The registry consists of 104 participating centers in 27 countries within the European Society of Cardiology. The registry data was split into an adenosine group (AG) and no-adenosine group (NAG). Procedure characteristics and patient outcome were compared. Results Adenosine was administered in 10.8% of the 3591 PVI patients included in the registry. Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy included the majority of adenosine cases (48.8%). Adenosine was applied more often in combination with open irrigation radiofrequency (RF) energy (74.7%) and less often in combination with nonirrigated RF energy (1.6%). After 1 year, a higher percentage of the AG was free from AF compared with the NAG (68.9% vs 59.1%, p p p = 0.991). Conclusions The use of adenosine was associated with a better rhythm outcome after 1 year follow-up and seems more useful in patients treated with RF energy compared with patients treated with cryo energy. Given the improved rhythm outcome at 1-year follow-up, it seems reasonable to encourage the use of adenosine during RF AF ablation.

BackgroundAlthough myocardial thickness is an important variable for therapeutic catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias, quantification of wall thickness has been overlooked. We developed a software (AMBER) that measures 3D-myocardial thickness using a cardiac computed tomogram (CT) image, verified its accuracy, and tested its clinical feasibility.MethodsWe generated 3D-thickness maps by calculating wall thickness (WT) from the CT images of 120 patients’ hearts and a 3D-phantom model (PhM). The initial vector field of the Laplace equation was oriented to calculate WT with the field lines derived from the 3D mesh. We demonstrate the robustness of the Laplace WT algorithm by comparing with the real thickness of 3D-PhM, echocardiographically measured left ventricular (LV) WT, and regional left atrial (LA) WT reported from previous studies. We conducted a pilot case of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) utilizing real-time LAWT map-guided radiofrequency (RF) energy titration.ResultsAMBER 3D-WT had excellent correlations with the real thickness of the PhM (R = 0.968,p R = 0.656,p = 0.007). AMBER 3D-LAWT (n = 120) showed a relatively good match with 12 previously reported regional LAWT. We successfully conducted pilot AF ablation utilizing AMBER 3D-LAWT map-guided real-time RF energy titration.ConclusionWe developed and verified an AMBER 3D-cardiac thickness map measured by cardiac CT images for LAWT and LVWT, and tested its feasibility for RF energy titration during clinical catheter ablation.

The optimal ablation approach for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is still under debate; however, the identification and elimination of AF sources is thought to play a key role. Currently available technologies for the identification of AF sources are not able to differentiate between active rotors or focal impulse (FI) and passive circular turbulences as generated by the interaction of a wave front with a functional obstacle such as fibrotic tissue. This study introduces electrographic flow (EGF) mapping as a novel technology for the identification and characterization of AF sources in humans. Twenty-five patients with AF (persistent: n = 24, long-standing persistent: n = 1; mean age 70.0 ± 8.3 years, male: n = 17) were included in this prospective study. Focal impulse and Rotor-Mapping (FIRM) was performed in addition to pulmonary vein isolation using radiofrequency in conjunction with a 3D-mapping-system. One-minute epochs were exported from the EP-recording-system and re-analyzed using EGF mapping after the procedure. 44 potential AF sources (43 rotors and one FI) were identified with FIRM and 39 of these rotors were targeted for ablation. EGF mapping verified 40 of these patterns and identified 24/40 (60%) as active sources while 16/40 (40%) were classified as passive circular turbulences. Four rotors were not identified by EGF mapping. EGF is the first method to identify active AF sources during AF ablation procedures in humans and discriminate them from passive rotational phenomena, which occur if the excitation wavefront passes conduction bariers. EGF mapping may allow improved guidance of AF ablation procedures.

Guidelines recommend that radiation exposure during AF catheter ablation procedures should be ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA), particularly since many patients may have multiple procedures. Consequently, avoiding radiation exposure altogether must, if safe to do so, be the ultimate goal. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of fluoroscopy-free AF ablation compared to the fluoroscopy-assisted procedure. Patients underwent AF ablation using commercially available technology with no routine pre-procedural imaging. The use of non-fluoroscopic imaging/mapping technologies permitted us to initially reduce x-ray exposure before eliminating its use altogether. This evolution of our practice proceeded in two stages: a 9-month period of optimising our fluoroscopy-free ablation protocol followed by a 9-month period during which we set out to complete the whole procedure routinely without fluoroscopy. We describe the protocol developed and report salient endpoints, such as complications, procedure times, patient experience, and procedural success rates. During the study period, fluoroscopy-free AF ablation was attempted in 69 patients: 24 in the 9-month ‘development phase’ and 45 in the ‘implementation phase’. During the development phase, 13 of 24 patients (54%) were treated without the use of fluoroscopy. In the implementation phase, 45 patients underwent AF ablation of which 42 (93.3%) were fluoroscopy-free. A detailed description is given of the three cases in which fluoroscopy had to be used despite an intention not to. Fluoroscopy-free complex ablation procedures for the treatment of atrial fibrillation are safe and feasible in most patients.

According to data from a national representative US-based database, early mortality was observed in almost 1 in 200 patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly encountered arrhythmia, which is not yet fully understood. Catheter ablation has shown to be an effective strategy for rhythm management and several small or retrospective studies have shown that stroke rates are decreased in ablated AF patients compared to those medically managed. Several studies even show that ablation returns stroke risk to that of non-AF patients. Large scale, prospective trials will further illuminate this connection and provide mechanistic understanding of the role of the procedure versus the process of selection for the procedure and peri- and post-procedural therapy and management. Furthermore, modification of risk factors associated with AF show a significant increase in the sustained success of AF ablation and can also moderate the progression of AF.

Multiple wavelet hypothesis and fibrillatory conduction are believed to be atrial fibrillation’s pathogenesis. Radio frequency ablation (RFA) technique, a therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF), applies radio frequency (RF) energy to targeted tissue to make it transmural. Research on AF ablation has already been conducted in China. Currently, there are single-electrode and dual-electrode ablation electrodes. It is discovered that the latter can reduce the treatment time and maintain the ablation shape of the tissue. Clinical application has shown that it has become the first-line treatment option for part of indications patients with AF.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with concomitant AF and heart failure (HF) is associated with significantly lower HF hospitalizations and all-cause mortality compared with medical therapy, according to the CASTLE-AF trial. This trial, along with previous trials such as AATAC, highlights the important role of AF ablation in the management of patients with HF and AF.

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with cryoballoon is a recently developed technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) with acceptable mid-term results in terms of the success and safety. The purpose of our study is to identify the periprocedural complications, mid-term success rates and predictors of recurrence after AF ablation with cryoballoon.A total of 236 patients (54% male, mean age 54.6 ± 10.45 years and 79.6% paroxysmal AF) with symptomatic AF underwent PV isolation with cryoballoon due to failure with ≥1 antiarrhythmic drug previously. Procedural success, complications and follow-up data were defined according to recent guidelines.Acute procedural success rate was 99.5%. Mean procedural and fluoroscopy times were 72.5 ± 5.3 and 14 ± 3.5 min. At a median of 18 (6-27) months follow-up, 80.8% of paroxysmal AF patients and 50.0% of persistent AF patients were free from AF recurrence. In multivariate regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) (hazard ratio (HR), 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18-2.93, p = 0.001), smoking (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.36-6.67, p 0.001), non-paroxysmal AF (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-2.56, p = 0.024), duration of AF (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18-2.61, p = 0.015), left atrium (LA) diameter (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.64-5.88, p 0.001) and early AF recurrence (HR, 4.88; 95% CI, 2.86-35.6, p 0.001) were independent predictors of AF recurrence following cryoablation.Our results showed that AF ablation with cryoballoon is effective and safe. Non-paroxysmal AF, duration of AF, smoking, BMI, LA diameter and early recurrence were found to be the most powerful predictors and could be helpful to select patients for appropriate therapeutic strategy.

Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent condition that can be difficult to treat medically, and an ablation strategy is often sought. Currently, the cornerstone of AF ablation strategies is pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Unfortunately, the single procedure success rates are limited, particularly when long-term outcomes (>1 year) are considered. As a result, the most recent consensus statement recommends that in patients with persistent AF a more extensive ablation be considered. Many additive procedural approaches to PVI have been investigated. These include electrical compartmentalization of the atria with linear lesions (LLs), ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs), ablation of the dominant frequency (DF) signals, and focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) ablation. Each of these approaches has demonstrated degrees of additive success when performed with a PVI in patients with persistent AF. This review provides an in-depth discussion of these techniques, their successes in treating persistent AF, and their shortcomings.

Over the past 5 years, catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has evolved from an experimental procedure to one that is now performed throughout the world. The rapid and widespread acceptance of this procedure reflects encouraging reports of the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of AF. The improved outcomes of catheter ablation of AF have resulted from a combination of increasing clinical experience, but also several important technological advances. One of the most important of these has been the development and widespread utilization of three dimensional mapping systems during AF ablation The purpose of this article is to briefly review the current status and clinical role of three dimensional mapping systems in catheter ablation of AF.

Introduction: At the present time, several techniques are used or are under investigation for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy. Nowadays, no well-defined target for such therapies has been yet completely identified. Furthermore, AF is an arrhythmia with high rates of recurrences, both symptomatic and asymptotic. Thus the measure of therapy success rates not only based on symptom perception remains a goal to be reached. Aims of the Study: This study investigates the role of an implantable loop recorder (ILR) as an additional tool to identify initiating and perpetuating mechanisms of AF. The role of right atrial linear ablation (RALA) procedures is also investigated using the monitoring capabilities of the ILR. Methods and Results: Nine patients (mean age 63.8 ± 5.9) with paroxysmal AF were referred to our institution as candidates for AF ablation. All patients (pts) had in their medical history several years of AF episodes. Therefore pts were aware of AF related symptoms. Six of them were implanted with an ILR before ablation and were monitored one month before and six months after the procedure. The ILRs stored 54 patient activated events (PAE) and 124 automatically activated events (AAE). 68% of PAEs and 67% of AAEs were classified as appropriate. Most common reasons for inappropriate detections were premature atrial or ventricular contractions among PAEs and undersensing among AAEs. The arrhythmia onset was properly identified in 4 pts (44%). The average AF recurrence rate was 10.8 ± 3.5 ep/month before ablation and 5.0 ± 1.8 ep/month after the procedure (p = 0.042). Conclusion: The ILR may be a helpful tool in monitoring pts undergoing ablation. Dedicated AF detection characteristics could give additional value to the device. RALA appears as a feasible, safe and relatively effective first approach in AF therapy.

Anticoagulation therapy: Rivaroxaban is a safe and feasible alternative to warfarin in AF ablation

Cappato et al. have reviewed the major causes of death in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Many of these complications could be prevented by careful catheter manipulation, implementing safe energy settings, adequate anticoagulation, and esophageal monitoring. Urgent pericardial drainage is critical in avoiding death related to cardiac tamponade.

The CONFIRM trial investigators have published their findings on a new, patient-specific strategy for ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The results of their trial have been received with excitement among electrophysiologists. In an editorial that accompanied the CONFIRM study report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Dr Karl-Heinz Kuck and Dr Erik Wissner state that the investigators "should be praised for providing the electrophysiology community with a potentially ground-breaking new method for AF ablation". They point out that, if confirmed by other investigators, "for the first time, ablation could target the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and not merely the AF trigger". Similarly, in his blog on www.theheart.org, Dr John Mandrola says that "this might be a turning point in the treatment of AF ablation" and describes the new method as "so much smarter and more elegant a strategy" compared with the traditional approach. All are eagerly awaiting reproduction and published confirmation of the success of this strategy by other teams of investigators.